After waiting all week to get back in the woods and in my favorite stand (crabapples) I settled in this evening with a goal to shoot a doe or two for the freezer when in fact I had seven different adult does stop by and offer a broadside 8 - 10 yard shot along with a small 8pt. and I never shot a deer! Not that I couldn't have but just didn't feel like killing one when the time presented itself! :knothead: I suppose I will probably not get another opportuntiy like this again this year but for some reason, that I cannot figure out it does not bother me in fact I am fine with it! Therefore please someone tell me this happened to them before!
:bigsmyl:
Sitting up on Mac's Ridge, back up against a tree, bedding area behind me, 7mm-08 in my lap. Along came an eight-point out of the bedding area, on his way to the next, cruising for does. He wasn't any bigger than any I had shot before, and I just watched him amble along and over the lip of the bowl.
Difference between you and me was, once he was out of sight, I thought to myself some very uncomplimentary things, accused myself of snobbishness, activated my primitive chase instinct and went after him.
Never laid eyes on him again. I think he laughed himself invisible over the incident. :D
Sometimes, a place and mood are so peaceful, you hate to break it up. Ya just gotta go with the flow at the time, and your flow was happy and mellow. What a great memory to have in your hoard!
Killdeer
All the time. I don't hate deer as much as I used to, so I don't try to kill 'em all! Just enjoy it.
Sometimes our inner voice just tells us that it's not the right time to make the shot to harvest game. When I look back at these times I find them much more rememberfull and enjoyable compared to some of the memories of taking game. My wife says that I'am just getting old.
my dad has done that more than ounce. he's a pretty spiritual guy and he says that sometimes killing that deer just "doesnt feel right". i myself have not had that happen yet, i havnt spent near as much time in the woods as he has but i can see how it makes sence and i see absolutly no problem in letting a deer walk for no other reason than that it "doesnt feel right", as my old man would say. i think that this along with choosing traditional tackle is part of what seperates the hunter from the killer.
-cory
Around here, we won't get that many opportunities all season... I know what I'd have done...
Bullseye to you- not so straight- and amen to your dad he sounds like my dad. Don't worry anaconda,your
time will come.
I have to admit...not taking game just because I didn't feel like it hasn't ever happened to me.
BUT I have passed on game because when the moment came I realized I just really didn't feel like cleaning/dressing it.
Are you a vegetarian? (LOL)
Just because you carried your bow into the wood doesn't mean you have to use it ;)
Sometimes it's just a pleasure to sit and watch nature do it's thang. Good for you bud! :thumbsup:
Opening day in southern tier NY was 10/18 I had two doe mom and there fawn near my ground blind. I will not even consider taking up the bow, why, herd size is down in our area and I sure hope they all make it for another season and all have fawns of there own. I want to leave some for the next generation of hunters like my grandson who is 12..
Bill
I did the same thing Saturday morning on a small 6pt. I just don't like shooting small bucks, and that's just my own choice. I might feel differently about it and drop the string next time, just depends on how I feel.
i do it all the time man! when the little voice tells me its time i take them, think that little voice is getting fat and lazy though!
This week was our season opener. I was out three times and saw my old friend twice...Radio Collared Doe. I have seen her for the past 6-7 years and we have a pack...I won't shoot her even though she has been right beside my tree on numerous occasions. I just think she has enough burden with that collar :) She's a smart one too as once or twice a season she finds me! This year she has twins last year triplets. It just makes my season to see that she is still around. Besides she has brought a few does and a buck by me that tasted great...Doc
I'll admit I'd have taken a shot. I consider myself lucky to get one chance in a season.
But watching one or more walk by without them knowing your there is a rush. I think that's the part a non hunter doesn't understand, it's not like "gee, I saw one on the way to work today".
The hunt is more fun then the kill. :thumbsup:
Nothin wrong with being a spectator sometimes.
Yep, you're weird. Heck, you are a traditional bowhunter who, contrary to what we see on the TV hunting shows, seems to see the hunt - not the kill- as the goal. You are practically a mutant, but dang it, you're in good company.
:bigsmyl:
Many years ago, my family was going to be out of town so I decided to camp in my favorite hunting spot for the weekend. This was during our deer gun season (which happened to coincide with part of our duck season).
The plan was to take the shotgun (I know - but it was *years* ago - I'm reformed now) for some duck hunting and my recurve for the whitetails. For some reason, I also brought some deer slugs. Anyway, in Ohio, if you have your bow with you, you can't have a gun so I was going to need to take two trips from the car to the campsite.
On the way out to my campsite in the evening, I walked across the rolling bean field ran up next to the little lake and pine grove where I intended to camp and hunt ducks. Passing around one of the little hillocks, I saw four does at about 40 yards - easy shot for the shotgun I had with me (should have taken the bow on the first trip). Bear in mind - at this point in my life I had yet to take a shot at a deer, this would be an easy first.
I hunkered down and watched them for a bit. End of legal light was quickly approaching and there was no way to get get back to my car, get my bow and get within bow range in the time left to me. There was a slug in my shotgun and the shot would have been an easy one.
I stood up and walked to my campsite - letting the does saunter off behind me. Frankly, I didn't *want* to kill a deer with the shotgun and if I had, that would have screwed up the really cool weekend I had planned.
As the weekend turned out, I had a ball taking ducks from my impromptu blind (that turned out to be right over a muskrat den - I could hear them down there jumping around all morning). The rest of the hunt had me stillhunting a riverbottom with my recurve and though I saw no more deer, I wouldn't have changed a thing.
I'll admit to passing on several deer over the years both bucks and does. I think these are times when my spirit simply was not ready to kill another of mother natures creatures. As stated earlier to me it is the hunt, not the kill that I love. Enjoying my time with mother nature, and her creatures up close and personal feeds my soul.
That being said I am a hunter gatherer, and I like having meat in the freezer.
I personally do it all the time. In a sense it forces me to hunt more, longer and harder. My goal is to not shoot a bull smaller than the bull I shot previously...so every bull gets bigger and bigger and harder and harder to kill.
If I want elk meat...I have enough friends who fill their tags with the first elk that crosses their path and happily share it with me and their other friends.
For me it's just a personal decision I've made. I don't think anything more or less of it. If bowhunting or hunting in general was my only means of supplying meat for myself or my family...I would do things differently.
Ray ;)
I often let does and smaller bucks pass by my stands without taking a shot, last night I let a 115-120 class buck and several does walk by at eight yards. I have found that by letting the does pass during the early season they become accustomed to my presence, feel safe walking the trails by my stands, and then become walking decoys during the rut. Some of my stands are saved for hunting larger bucks and I don't take the chance of disturbing the area more then needed by shooting, then trailing does and smaller bucks deer through the area. On other stands, I often let them walk because I want to save some tags for a particular hunting unit, wanting my deer hunting to extend into December and January; I really enjoy hunting with friends on these late season "social hunts" (with the temperatures below zero). Other times, they are allowed to pass unharmed because I am only able to take the next morning off from work a few times each year, and those days are saved to trail (if needed) or hunt during the rut. On occasion I let them walk because it is enough to know I could have taken the shot without them knowing, having confirmed my scouting, observations, and stand placement skills are still working. Other times, the freezer is full enough for the year and it is enough to watch the sun rise over the mountains, the river bottom awaken, the ice crystals floating in the air, and the deer pushing new trails through freshly fallen snow.
Walt, I like your philosophy plus your hunting area :D Doc
dont let it bother you. the situation may happen again, and you might decide to shoot.
If I am not going to shoot, I'd leave the bow, take the camera and go for a walk.
Steve
Sometimes you never know until the opportunity presents itself. I carry bow AND camera.
Killdeer :archer:
I have often found that when there are challenges in my own personal world, I am prevented from making meat. I just can't muster up the killer instinct... stopped trying to analyze it...just go with it.
Taking a life is a responsibility. If my heart and mind aren't united in it, it doesn't happen.
Where I hunt, seeing ONE deer at range is a gift...so it often results in a fruitless season thereafter, but.... :)
Like someone said;
" sometimes it's more about the hunt, then the kill"
Last year, I passed on five different deer, I didn't feel bad about it, but I was graciously given a deer by someone that shot 11 deer, he just had to much deer meat. After I had deer in the freezer I was more willing to pass. I think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to make the kill for deer.
This year will be different, I have not been out to hunt yet ! Just finished yesterday on a huge deck.
Now it's time to hunt !
I lost my private land, to someone who leased it ! So it's back to public land, I won't let too many pass on public land.
One reason you're letting them pass, you are " a better hunter" than others, your are at peace with your skills.
Carl
No your not weird . Killy I agree ! When my Father found out there was nothing more they could do for him . As far as the cancer treatments go. He asked me why would I get up at 4am to listen to a turkey gobble.
I replied Dad it's a beautiful thing. I took Dad out in the woods and tried my darndest to entice a gobble. Just didn't happen, Dad passed not knowing what I meant for the moment.
This past Spring season meant a lot to me. And I believe Dad watched the whole thing. Everything just felt right and tears fell from my eyes.
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j297/treeyelpr/301041-R1-01-24A_002-1.jpg)
Same thing happened to me this past Friday night. First time in the stand, and a doe trotted by at about 8 yards. I did not take the shot. As I was walking out of the woods I wondered why, because earlier this fall I thought I would shoot a doe for venison. But there is just too much hunting season left, and a friend I have not yet had the chance to hunt with- to end it now. I may have passed up a "gift of the hunt" but so be it.
Gary
Yes you are both weird and you are losing it! Shoot man!!
I often search for a reason not to take the shot. Too late, too far back in the wilderness, does with young fawns, freezer is already full, I will give that one another year to grow, the list is endless.
One thing about my hunting attitude and discretionary taking of game is that I am sought out by clubs and land owners to hunt their land. My reputation precedes me, and they know I will respect their land and any other hunters that share the same.